BUT GOD . . .

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-6)

BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS, and His rich mercy and profound love for "us," God reached into the abysmal depths we occupied. It was no small effort, and involved sending His "only begotten Son into the world" (1 John 4:10). The Son, volunteering for the mission of mercy (Heb 10:5-10), laid aside the prerogatives of Deity, emptying Himself, and entered into the realm of hostility and death with a sheathed sword and a frail frame (Phil 2:6-8). His entrance into the graveyard of humanity constituted the appearance of "the grace of God which brings salvation" (Tit 2:11). It is the initial time when "the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared" (Tit 3:4). The first appearance was visual, and was missed by the vast majority of humanity (John 1:10-11). Faith brings that appearance home to the heart, enabling the redeemed to see what God did in Christ Jesus.

THE LORD HAD "LOOKED," so to speak, to see if there was any who could assist in the recovery of fallen humanity. As He surveyed the entirety of the race, He found "None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him" (Psa 49:7). When it came to the reclamation of mankind, there was a staggering impotence that dominated the offspring of Adam. They were all "without strength" (Rom 5:6). However, the Lord was not dismayed by the circumstance. Speaking of the situation, Isaiah prophesied the matter declared in our text. "And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me, and my fury, it upheld me" (Isa 63:5). He wrought the salvation FOR men and decimated the powers of darkness by His own power. Man could not do it, so the living God did!

THE PHRASE "RICH IN MERCY," describes salvation from a general viewpoint, showing that it took an abundance of mercy and a willing God to save us. It was no small work to save mankind. "Mercy" involves compassion, pity, and sympathy. It is kindness and goodwill toward miserable and afflicted people. Mercy is also wrapped with the chord of faithfulness. It is not sporadic or inconsistent. The Living God not only has the capacity and ability to lavish His mercy upon men, He has an inclination to do so. Our new birth was "according to His ABUNDANT mercy" (1 Pet 1:3). The point at which we were changed was the point where that abundant mercy was lavished upon us.

THUS WE ARE GIVEN the grand disjunctive – "BUT GOD!" It is what turned things around, ushered hope into the world, and announced the doom of "the prince of the power of the air." It is the line of demarcation in history, when futility was toppled from the throne by faith and hope. Divine intervention is seen in the words "but God." The intervention could not be stopped by the devil! Those words are used to explain Christ's resurrection (Acts 13:30), the demonstration of God's love toward us (Rom 5:8), and the revelation of the things He has prepared for us (1 Cor 2:10). "But God" explains spiritual increase (1 Cor 3:6) and triumph over temptation (1 Cor 10:13). The "but God" factor is what brings all valid change, all acceptable advance, and all victory over inimical forces. All who see it will give glory to Him!

– Given O. Blakely